Means for therapeutic mechanical shoe fittings

ABSTRACT

In a shoe, an apparatus for the support of a foot, comprising a semi rigid piece of metal or plastic extending from the heel to the ball of the foot, disposed over the inner sole of the shoe, and a screw operable from the exterior of the heel to raise or lower the semi rigid piece.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/525,975filed on May 15, 2000, for which all rights under 35 U.S.C. 1.19 isclaimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of footgear: dressshoes, athletic boots, sneakers, orthopedic shoes and the like, and moreparticularly to an improved means for quick, easy, inexpensive andtherapeutic individual custom fitting by mechanical means within saidfootgear.

[0003] Walking is a complicated bio-mechanical process. As the heelstrikes, the Talus and attached Calcaneous (heel) bone, which make upthe Sub Taler joint, move downwardly and medially, acting as a shockabsorber. The range of said movement is called pronation. The degree ofpronation is a direct factor that determines the efficiency of the footand leg as well as all related parts of the body above the foot, as wellas the parts of the foot distal to these bones.

[0004] Abnormal degrees of pronation can cause incorrect positioning ofall the directly and indirectly connected bones which in turn causesstrain on all the directly and indirectly connected joints, ligaments,nerves, blood vessels and muscles. This strain may be felt any wherethroughout the body as aches, pains, fatigue, cramping, pulled muscles,fasciitis, tendenitis, etc. If left untreated the condition may worsenand cause chronic “bad knees”, “bad backs”, neuromas, stress fracturesof bones, etc.

[0005] The degrees of pronation are also influenced by the kind offootgear and the fit of said footgear.

PRIOR ART

[0006] The problems arising from excessive pronation have been treatedby devices worn in footgear to minimize the degree of pronation. Such“supports” are lumped together as “Arch Supports” and “Foot Orthotics”.“Arch Supports” are relatively inexpensive—twenty, thirty dollars—andare sold over the counter, usually by shoe size. “Foot Orthotics” arecustom built over plaster casts—or the like—of the individual foot andmay cost four and five hundred dollars. The devices may be constructedand formed of leather, metals and plastics of varying degrees ofrigidity. While the main benefits of such “supports” derive from thesupport under the Sub Taler joint, the “supports” mimic the shape of thebottom of the foot and often have built up edges to maintain the foot inposition relative to the Sub Taler supported area.

[0007] All such devices have many faults in common. They take up spacewithin the footgear. Their fit and efficiency is effected by the shapeof the sole of the footgear. As they are constantly worn they pick upodors from the feet. The breakdown of the shoe with wear will change theefficiency of the devices. The condition of the person wearing saiddevices may change. Changing shoes, the wearer may forget to include thedevices. They may be lost. Because of their cost a person may choose notto buy them and so allow his condition to worsen. A less expensivedevice may not be correct for the condition treated.

[0008] Adjustments of said devices are costly. It requires the servicesof persons trained in the art, who have the necessary machinery andmaterials. Adjustments also require the investment of travel time tooand from the business or offices of the adjuster for one or more times.

[0009] It is therefore among the objects of the present invention toprovide means for adjusting the interior of footgear to meet the needsof the individual foot, in which the advantages of the above aresubstantially retained, and the disadvantages substantially eliminated.

[0010] Another object of the invention lies in the provision ofmechanical means to achieve the initial custom support, as well assubsequent adjustments, quickly, easily and inexpensively. Anotherobject is to provide means by which an individual can adjust the shoehimself when necessary. The relatively small cost and ease of use mayattract its use for even small problems and thus, in the long run,prevent many of the complications arising from neglect of treating smallproblems.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,584 granted to this inventor uses a similarscrew means to raise the inner aspect of the heel. The devices of thispatent consists of two distinct parts. One part controls the Sub Talerjoint (heel) area of the foot. The other part controls the forward ballof the foot (metatarsal) area. However, it has been found that theraising of the small area under the Sub Taler joint area puts a painfuland unwearable pressure on that small area. A semi rigid extensionextending under most of medial side of the foot can distribute thisexcessive pressure and make it bearable and wearable. However, such asemi rigid extension cannot be used with the aforementioned patentbecause such an extension would then extend over and impinge themechanism for controlling the forward metatarsal area and interfere withthe working of that part of the invention. Reflexly, it would alsointerfere with the working of the Sub Taler (heel) part of thatinvention.

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to overcome theforegoing problem.

[0013] These objects and advantages will be apparent in the drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In accordance with the present invention, a semi rigid piecealong the long arch area, extends from the heel area to the ball of thefoot area and is freely disposed over the inner sole of the shoe. Thissemi rigid piece, preferably a plate, may be of steel or plastic. Thefoot is maintained in position by the sides of the shoes.

[0015] The device is provided with lifting means to raise or lower thesemi rigid piece. In the preferred embodiment, the lifting means is ascrew that penetrates the shoe upwardly through the sole.

[0016] In another embodiment, a rigid supportive piece raises from aslit in the sole of the shoe in the Sub Taler joint heel area. Thissupportive piece is activated by a spring that causes it to revolve intoa vertical position or as close to a vertical as the overriding semirigid piece pressed against the foot will allow. A screw, penetratingfrom the side of the heel area goes through a bore in said supportivepiece and acts as its axle. Tightening of this screw forces thesupportive piece tightly against side flanged attachments to the wall ofthe slot to maintain its position. In other embodiments, the screwactivating mechanism can be substituted with a cylinder/piston plunger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1. is a longitudinal section of a shoe illustrating the semirigid piece and the underlying screw mechanism penetrating up throughthe sole/heel;

[0018]FIG. 2. is a longitudinal section of a shoe illustrating anotherembodiment of an underlying mechanism with a controlling screwpenetrating the side of the heel;

[0019]FIG. 3. is a plan view of the shoe sole shown in FIG. 1illustrating the through bore of the heel;

[0020]FIG. 4. is a plan view of a shoe sole illustrating yet anothermeans of raising and lowering the semi rigid piece controlled by a screwpenetrating the side of the heel; and

[0021]FIG. 5. is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 4,illustrating another means of raising and lowering the semi rigid piececontrolled by a screw penetrating the side of the heel.

[0022]FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of another embodiment ofthe present invention for the support and means for raising the archagainst the foot.

[0023]FIGS. 7 and 8 are views similar to FIG. 6 showing rest positionand operative positions, respectively of the support and means forraising and lowering the support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The present invention fits conventional shoes made for men orwomen. Such shoes generally comprise a upper, a outer sole, a heel, ainternal sole and a sock lining.

[0025] The invention, as seen in FIG. 1, provides a semi rigid piece orplate 1, for supporting the arch of the foot, and an underlying flangedtee nut 2 set into the top of through bore 4 of the heel 13. Said teenut 2 contains inner threads to mesh with the threads of screw 3. Screw3 penetrates the bore 4 of the heel and contacts the bottom of the semirigid piece 1 in the area of its heel end. Screw 3 has a notch 5 at itslower end to facilitate the use a screw driver to turn said screw 3 toraise or lower said semi rigid piece 1. The sock lining 11 is of amaterial that helps dissipate the pressure of the semi rigid piece 1.The semi rigid piece 1 is secured to the sock lining 11 directly by theuse of adhesives or adhesive tapes.

[0026] With the foot in the footgear, the screw 3 is turned until thewearer feels the semi rigid piece 1 contact the medial area of the foot.Then, walking determines if the amount of raise is comfortable. If thewearer of the shoe is seeking relief from some particular pain or ache,some days or weeks trials are indicated. If there is no relief, piece 1can be raised for other trials. If other areas of discomfort appear, thesemi rigid piece 1 can then be lowered back to its comfortable position.

[0027] In another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,the semi rigid piece 1 overlies a slot 6 in the sole area 15 of the heel13. The slot 6 contains a supporting piece 9 and flanged pieces 7 and 8attached to opposing walls of said slot 6 (FIG. 4). Operation of thehandle 16 provides counter clockwise rotation of screw 12 at the side ofthe heel 13 releasing the friction pressure holding said supportingpiece 9 in place between flanged pieces 7 and 8. This frees piece 9 soit can respond to the urging of spring 10 and rotate up to and force upsemi rigid piece 1 as much as it can until it is stopped by the pressureof the foot above it. Then screw 12 is turned via handle 16 clockwisewithin its nut 14 to bring said support piece 9 and the flanged pieces 7and 8 tightly together to maintain support piece 9 and semi rigid piece1 in position. Flanged pieces 7 and 8 are adhered to the walls of slot 6by their flange parts. The sides of support piece 9 and the flangepieces 7 and 8 are roughened to provide additional friction to maintainsupport piece 9 in position.

[0028] In another embodiment, as seen in FIG. 5, the rigid support piece9 has teeth 17 along one side which engage teeth 18 on a rotating wheel19 to force the rigid support up or down. The rotating wheel 19 iscontrolled by a shaped handle 20 extending through the center of therotating wheel. When it is desired to lock the apparatus in a desiredposition, the handle 20 is pushed forward into a similarly shapedopening which prevents any further rotation of the wheel.

[0029] The semi rigid plate 1 forming the foot support can be made froma single member of flexible plastic or several layers or leaves ofplastic, leather or the like.

[0030] The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 where like parts are denoted bylike numerals to those shown in FIG. 105, comprises a pair of thearcuate member 30 and 32 having a pair of meshing teeth 34 and 36. Oneof the arcuate members 30 is slidably mounting in a walled channel 38 sothat its teeth 34 can be caused to slide in and out of engagement withthe teeth 34 of the other member 32. A stop member 40 is mountedlimiting the backward or out of engagement position. Located at the openside of the shoe is plunger 42 comprising a cylinder 44 in which ishoused a spring 46. Bearing on the spring 46 in the cylinder 44 is aflat tongue like piston 48, having a wedge-like edge 50 passing throughthe slidable member 30. Attached at the forward end of the piston is oneend of a wire spring 52; the opposite end being fixed. Thus depressionof the plunger moves the 42 in the cylinder 44 sliding member so thatthe teeth 38 and 40 disengage until the slide member is arrested by thestop.

[0031] The second arcuate member 32 is fixed on an axis 56 so whendisengaged from the teeth of the slidable member is free to rotate orpivot is an arc the teeth move upwardly. A compression spring is locatedbelow the second rotating member 32, biasing the second member 32upwardly against the arch plate until stopped by the foot. The exposedend of the plunger 42 splayed to receive a pick, pen point or similarpointed article which can acuate the plunger. In lieu of the springlocated plunger, the plunger can be activated by a screw which whenturned moves linearly in or out similarly as the tongue 48, which ismanipulated from the exterior of the shoe.

[0032] With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventionresides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in thedetails of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes in the precise embodiments of the inventionherein disclosed may be within the scope of what is claimed withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An arch for support of a foot in a shoe, saidarch disposed freely in said shoe to extend proximately from the heel tothe ball of said foot above the inner sole of said shoe, said archcomprising a semi rigid plate and an adjustable support to raise andlower said plate, a slot adapted to receive said support and meansoperable from the exterior of said heel for raising and lowering saidplate to a selected position
 2. A support according to claim 1, whereinsaid support comprises a semi-rigid plate having a long arch and beingfreely disposed within said shoe from proximately the heel to the ballthereof above the inner sole of said shoe and below the long arch ofsaid foot, said support comprising means comprising a first and secondmember, one of which is adapted to engage the other in non-operative andrest positions, one of said members rotatably mounted in a slot on atransverse axis eccentric to its center and parallel to said long axisof said foot and operable to disengage from said other member toselectively cause said plate and raise and lower said plate to aselected position.
 3. The support according to claims 1, including meansfor arresting and fixing said support in selected position.
 4. Thesupport according to claims 1, including springing means biasing saidsupport.